Barnegat class seaplane tender
Encyclopedia
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The Barnegat class was a large class of United States Navy
small seaplane tender
s built during World War II
. Thirty were completed as seaplane tenders, four as motor torpedo boat tender
s, and one as a catapult
training ship.
s each, but they were more expensive to build and had a deep draft, precluding their use in shallow harbors. The U.S. Navy therefore also planned for "small seaplane tenders" (AVPs), with a shallower draft, capable of supporting only one squadron each but cheaper to build and able to operate in shallow waters; the AVPs were the descendants of the "seaplane tenders (destroyer)" (AVDs), converted from old destroyer
s. Both the full-size and small seaplane tenders were designed to provide supplies, spare parts, fuel, repairs, and berthing for assigned seaplane
squadrons, and were well-armed so that they could serve as the primary line of defense of the seaplane bases they set up.
The Barnegat-class ships were the first purpose-built AVPs, prior ships carrying that designation having been converted destroyers and minesweepers
. In addition to carrying out the above-described responsibilities, they were well-enough armed to be employed as escorts for larger seaplane tenders, having a substantial anti-air and anti-surface gunnery capability, as well as depth charge
racks and sonar
for antisubmarine work. The gun battery varied greatly, being envisioned originally as two 5-inch (127-millimeter) 38-caliber guns, being expanded to an assigned total of four such guns in 1942. Few ships mounted four of these guns, and batteries of three, two, or one 5 inches (127 mm) were mounted during World War II, accompanied by various combinations of 40-millimeter and 20 mm antiaircraft guns. The armament was reduced after the war; those ships in commission as survey ships were entirely unarmed by 1959.
The ships were reliable, long-ranged, and seaworthy, and had good habitability.
In the spring of 1943, the U.S. Navy concluded that the number of Barnegats ordered was excess to requirements. Four of them were converted during construction to motor torpedo boat tenders, while a fifth was modified during construction for use a catapult training ship for battleship
and cruiser
floatplane
pilots
, her catapult equipment coming from that manufactured for canceled Cleveland-class
light cruiser
s. Six other Barnegats were canceled—four on 22 April 1943 and two more on 29 April 1943 – without having been laid down, their diesel engine
s being needed for various escort ships and amphibious landing
craft.
Three Barnegats were selected in 1945 for conversion to press information ships in anticipation of the 1945–1946 invasion of Japan
, but when the war ended without this invasion being necessary they were converted back into seaplane tenders.
s, but the vast majority were named after bodies of water, mostly bay
s and inlet
s, around the United States
and the then-Territory of Alaska.
The combination of the post-World War II downsizing of the U.S. Navy and the decline of the seaplane and motor torpedo boat in U.S. naval operations meant that all but the newest ships decommissioned in 1946 and 1947. Those that did stay on in service as seaplane tenders decommissioned between the mid-1950s and 1960s, some seeing service in the Korean War
(1950–1953). The last unit did not leave U.S. Navy service until 1973.
However, the ships proved versatile and durable, and had long second lives postwar. One became a specialized flagship
late in her life. Some became oceanographic
and hydrographic
survey ships, either in U.S. Navy, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, or Greek
service. Eighteen were transferred to the United States Coast Guard
– where they became known as Casco-class
cutters
– between 1946 and 1949 for service mostly as weather reporting ships, a role they played until the late 1960s and early 1970s; some of the Coast Guard ships saw service in the Vietnam War
, and one survived as a cutter
until 1988. A number of the units of the class were transferred to foreign navies, including those of Ethiopia
, Italy
, Norway
, the Philippines
, and South Vietnam
, for use as patrol vessels and training ships, and a few saw commercial service as cruise ship
s in Greece
. The murky information available on a unit incorporated into the Vietnam People's Navy
after the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 suggests that she remained active until at least 2000 and may remain active today; even if reports of her longevity are inaccurate, it should be noted that the last member of this large and long-lived class of ships did not leave service until 1993, when the ship transferred to Italy was decommissioned by the Italian Navy
.
, lead unit of the class, was commissioned in July 1941. She served in the Atlantic until February 1945, then finished World War II in the Pacific. She was in reserve from 1945 to 1958, then was sold into commercial service and was used a Greek cruise ship from 1962 to 1986.
was in commission from 1941 to 1946. During the first half of World War II
, she saw service as a seaplane tender in the Atlantic, in the Caribbean, in West Africa, and in North Africa. Converted into an amphibious force
flagship
in 1943, she served in the Mediterranean in 1943–1944, seeing action in the amphibious landings in Operation Avalanche at Salerno
, Operation Shingle
at Anzio
, and Operation Dragoon
in southern France
. Redesignated AGC-18 in 1944, she then served in the Pacific in 1945, serving at Iwo Jima
, in the Okinawa campaign, and in the Philippines
before the war ended. Postwar, she served in Korea
and China
. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Dexter (WAGC-18), later WAVP-385, later WHEC-385, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1952 and from 1958 to 1968.
was in commission from 1941 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Casco (WAVP-370)
, later WHEC-370, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1969.
was in commission from 1942 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Mackinac (WAVP-371)
, later WHEC-371, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1968.
was in commission from 1941 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She was among three Barnegat-class ships selected in 1945 for conversion to a press information ship, redesignated AG-121, for the projected invasion of Japan in 1945–1946, but the war ended before the invasion could take place and she was converted back into a seaplane tender.She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Humboldt (WAVP-372)
, later WHEC-372, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1969.
was in commission from 1941 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Atlantic. She was among three Barnegat-class ships selected in 1945 for conversion to a press information ship, redesignated AG-122, for the projected invasion of Japan in 1945–1946, but the war ended before the invasion could take place and she was converted back into a seaplane tender. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373)
, later WHEC-373, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1968.
was in commission from 1943 to 1947. She was converted while under construction into a catapult
training ship, and spent World War II in Florida
waters training battleship
and cruiser
floatplane
pilot
s in catapult launches, also serving as a mobile target for torpedo planes. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374)
, later WHEC-374, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1972. She was transferred to South Vietnam
in 1972 and captured by North Vietnam
on the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War
in 1975.
was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Chincoteague (WAVP-375)
, later WHEC-375, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1972. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1972. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines
. She served in the Philippine Navy
from 1975 to 1985.
was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Coos Bay (WAVP-376)
, later WHEC-376, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1966.
was laid down as a seaplane tender, then was chosen as one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted to a motor torpedo boat tender prior to completion and redesignated AGP-6, but ultimately was completed as a seaplane tender, with her sister ship Oyster Bay
becoming the motor torpedo tender AGP-6 instead. She was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the New Guinea campaign
and the Philippines campaign
. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Half Moon (WAVP-378)
, later WHEC-378, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1969.
was one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted during construction into a motor torpedo boat tender. She was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, supporting operations at Morotai
, in the Philippines campaign, and in the Borneo
campaign. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey postwar, serving as the survey ship USC&GS Pioneer (OSS 31) until 1966.
was one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted during construction into a motor torpedo boat tender. She was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the New Guinea and Philippine campaigns. Stricken from the Navy List
in 1946, she was reinstated as a seaplane tender in 1949 and kept in reserve until 1957. She was transferred to Italy in 1957, serving in the Italian Navy until 1993.
was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She was among three Barnegat-class ships selected in 1945 for conversion to a press information ship, redesignated AG-123, for the projected invasion of Japan in 1945–1946, but the war ended before the invasion could take place and she was converted back into a seaplane tender. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Rockaway (WAVP-377)
, later WAGO-377, WHEC-377, and WOLE-377, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1972.
was in commission from 1943 to 1947 as a seaplane tender, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Southwest Pacific, the New Guinea campaign, the Central Pacific, and the Philippines campaign
. She recommissioned in 1948 after conversion to a hydrographic survey ship, redesignated AGS-30, and served in this capacity until 1969.
was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific through the end of 1944, then in the Atlantic during the first half of 1945. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Unimak (WAVP-379), later WHEC-379, later WTR-379, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1975 and from 1977 to 1988.
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she supported the Peleliu
, Mariana Islands
, and Okinawa campaigns. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Yakutat (WAVP-380)
, later WHEC-380, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1971. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1971. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, where she was cannibalized for spare parts.
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Philippines campaign. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Barataria (WAVP-381)
, later WHEC-381, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1969.
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Central Pacific, where she saw action in the Okinawa campaign. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Bering Strait (WAVP-382)
, later WHEC-382, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1971. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1971. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, and served in the Philippine Navy until 1985.
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Castle Rock (WAVP-383)
, later WHEC-383, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1971. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1971. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, and served in the Philippine Navy until 1985.
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she served in Hawaii
and saw action in the Iwo Jima
campaign. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384)
, later WHEC-384, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1971. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1971. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, where she was cannibalized for spare parts.
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Central Pacific. She was recommissioned in 1951 and saw service in support of United Nations
forces in the Korean War
(1950–1953), then remained in commission until 1966.
was in commission from 1944 to 1966. She performed her World War II service in the Central Pacific and in the Okinawa campaign. Postwar she served worldwide.
was in commission from 1945 to 1958, with World War II service in the Okinawa campaign. She also served four tours of duty in support of United Nations forces during the Korean War. In 1958 she was transferred to Norway
, where she served as the naval cadet
training ship HNoMS Haakon VII (A-537)
until 1974.
was in commission from 1945 to 1960. She served at Okinawa at the end of World War II, cruised around the world in 1947–1948, and then served in the Pacific and Far East.
was in commission from 1945 to 1966. She arrived in the Western Pacific just after the end of World War II. She cruised around the world in 1946, then operated in the Pacific before spending most of her career in the Middle East
and Mediterranean.
was cancelled on 22 April 1943 before she was laid down.
was cancelled on 22 April 1943 before she was laid down.
was cancelled on 22 April 1943 before she was laid down.
was cancelled on 22 April 1943 before she was laid down.
was cancelled on 29 April 1943 before she was laid down.
was cancelled on 29 April 1943 before she was laid down.
was in commission from 1943 to 1947, seeing World War II service in the Central Pacific, Palau Islands, and Okinawa campaign. She was recommissioned in 1951 and saw service in support of United Nations
forces in the Korean War
(1950–1953), performing four tours in Korea
between 1951 and 1955, and then remained in commission until 1960, when she was sold into commercial service in the Philippines.
was in commission from 1944 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns. She was again in commissioned from 1951 to 1960, seeing service the Pacific and Far East
(1950–1953). In 1962 she was transferred to Ethiopia
, and served as that country's largest warship Ethiopia (A-01) until 1991.
was in commission from 1944 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the United Kingdom
and Brazil
. She was recomissioned in 1948 after conversion to an oceanographic
survey vessel. Redesignated AGS-50 in 1949, she saw service in this role from 1948 to 1970.
was in commission from 1944 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Solomon Islands
, at Morotai, and Philippines campaign. After years in reserve, she returned to U.S. Navy service in 1958 in a non-commissioned status as the hydrographic
survey ship United States Naval Ship
USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) with a mostly civilian crew, serving in this role until 1971. In 1971 she was transferred to Greece, which also employed her as a hydrographic survey ship.
was in commission from 1944 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the Central Pacific and in the Okinawa campaign. She was in reserve from 1947 to 1960, when she was sold into commercial service. She served as a Greek cruise ship until she sank in a storm while laid up in 1981.
was in commission from 1944 to 1955, performing her World War II service in the Central Pacific, then serving postwar in the Pacific and Far East. She was in reserve from 1955 to 1966, then was sunk as a target.
was in commission from 1946 to 1954, performing most of her active service in the Caribbean
and along the United States East Coast. She was in reserve from 1954 to 1960, then sold into commercial service. She operated as a Greek cruise ship from 1960 to 1989.
was in commission from 1946 to 1973, spending her career in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Middle East. In 1965 she was reclassified as a "miscellaneous command flagship
", redesignated AGF-1.
was one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted during construction into a motor torpedo boat tender. She was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Philippine and Borneo campaigns. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC McCulloch (WAVP-386)
, later WHEC-386, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1946 to 1972. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1972. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, and served in the Philippine Navy until 1985.
was one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted during construction into a motor torpedo boat tender. She was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Philippine and Borneo campaigns. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387)
, later WHEC-387 and WAGW-387, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service until 1973.
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The Barnegat class was a large class of United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
small seaplane tender
Seaplane tender
A seaplane tender is a ship that provides facilities for operating seaplanes. These ships were the first aircraft carriers and appeared just before the First World War.-History:...
s built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Thirty were completed as seaplane tenders, four as motor torpedo boat tender
Motor torpedo boat tender
Motor torpedo boat tender is a type of ship used by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The Motor torpedo boat tender's task was to act as a tender in remote areas for patrol boats and to provide the necessary fuel and provisions for the torpedo boats she was responsible for...
s, and one as a catapult
Aircraft catapult
An aircraft catapult is a device used to launch aircraft from ships—in particular aircraft carriers—as a form of assisted take off. It consists of a track built into the flight deck, below which is a large piston or shuttle that is attached through the track to the nose gear of the aircraft, or in...
training ship.
Design
Before World War II, the United States Navy foresaw a need for a large force of seaplane tenders in the event of a war in the Pacific, to allow air operations from undeveloped islands and atolls. Full-size seaplane tenders (AVs) were designed to support two squadrons of flying boatFlying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s each, but they were more expensive to build and had a deep draft, precluding their use in shallow harbors. The U.S. Navy therefore also planned for "small seaplane tenders" (AVPs), with a shallower draft, capable of supporting only one squadron each but cheaper to build and able to operate in shallow waters; the AVPs were the descendants of the "seaplane tenders (destroyer)" (AVDs), converted from old destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s. Both the full-size and small seaplane tenders were designed to provide supplies, spare parts, fuel, repairs, and berthing for assigned seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
squadrons, and were well-armed so that they could serve as the primary line of defense of the seaplane bases they set up.
The Barnegat-class ships were the first purpose-built AVPs, prior ships carrying that designation having been converted destroyers and minesweepers
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
. In addition to carrying out the above-described responsibilities, they were well-enough armed to be employed as escorts for larger seaplane tenders, having a substantial anti-air and anti-surface gunnery capability, as well as depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
racks and sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
for antisubmarine work. The gun battery varied greatly, being envisioned originally as two 5-inch (127-millimeter) 38-caliber guns, being expanded to an assigned total of four such guns in 1942. Few ships mounted four of these guns, and batteries of three, two, or one 5 inches (127 mm) were mounted during World War II, accompanied by various combinations of 40-millimeter and 20 mm antiaircraft guns. The armament was reduced after the war; those ships in commission as survey ships were entirely unarmed by 1959.
The ships were reliable, long-ranged, and seaworthy, and had good habitability.
In the spring of 1943, the U.S. Navy concluded that the number of Barnegats ordered was excess to requirements. Four of them were converted during construction to motor torpedo boat tenders, while a fifth was modified during construction for use a catapult training ship for battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
and cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
floatplane
Floatplane
A floatplane is a type of seaplane, with slender pontoons mounted under the fuselage; only the floats of a floatplane normally come into contact with water, with the fuselage remaining above water...
pilots
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, her catapult equipment coming from that manufactured for canceled Cleveland-class
Cleveland class cruiser
The United States Navy designed the Cleveland class of light cruisers for World War II with the goal of increased range and AA armament as compared with earlier classes.A total of 52 ships of this class were projected and 3 canceled...
light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s. Six other Barnegats were canceled—four on 22 April 1943 and two more on 29 April 1943 – without having been laid down, their diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s being needed for various escort ships and amphibious landing
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
craft.
Three Barnegats were selected in 1945 for conversion to press information ships in anticipation of the 1945–1946 invasion of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, but when the war ended without this invasion being necessary they were converted back into seaplane tenders.
Naming
The class was named for its lead unit, Barnegat. A few of the ships were named after islandIsland
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s, but the vast majority were named after bodies of water, mostly bay
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
s and inlet
Inlet
An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...
s, around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the then-Territory of Alaska.
Operations
The ships entered service between 1941 and 1946, and all but three of them were commissioned in time to participate in combat actions in World War II. The motor torpedo boat tenders served in the Pacific during the latter half of the war, while the seaplane tenders saw service in virtually every theater in which the United States Navy operated during the war.The combination of the post-World War II downsizing of the U.S. Navy and the decline of the seaplane and motor torpedo boat in U.S. naval operations meant that all but the newest ships decommissioned in 1946 and 1947. Those that did stay on in service as seaplane tenders decommissioned between the mid-1950s and 1960s, some seeing service in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
(1950–1953). The last unit did not leave U.S. Navy service until 1973.
However, the ships proved versatile and durable, and had long second lives postwar. One became a specialized flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
late in her life. Some became oceanographic
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
and hydrographic
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
survey ships, either in U.S. Navy, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, or Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
service. Eighteen were transferred to the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
– where they became known as Casco-class
Casco class cutter
The Casco class was a large class of United States Coast Guard cutters in commission from the late 1940s through the late 1980s. They saw service as weather reporting ships in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans until the early 1970s, and some saw combat service during the Vietnam War.-Design:Between...
cutters
United States Coast Guard Cutter
Cutter is the term used by the United States Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. A Cutter is or greater in length, has a permanently assigned crew, and has accommodations for the crew to live aboard...
– between 1946 and 1949 for service mostly as weather reporting ships, a role they played until the late 1960s and early 1970s; some of the Coast Guard ships saw service in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, and one survived as a cutter
United States Coast Guard Cutter
Cutter is the term used by the United States Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. A Cutter is or greater in length, has a permanently assigned crew, and has accommodations for the crew to live aboard...
until 1988. A number of the units of the class were transferred to foreign navies, including those of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, for use as patrol vessels and training ships, and a few saw commercial service as cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. The murky information available on a unit incorporated into the Vietnam People's Navy
Vietnam People's Navy
The Vietnam People's Navy is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.-History:Following the Geneva...
after the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 suggests that she remained active until at least 2000 and may remain active today; even if reports of her longevity are inaccurate, it should be noted that the last member of this large and long-lived class of ships did not leave service until 1993, when the ship transferred to Italy was decommissioned by the Italian Navy
Italian Navy
Italian Navy may refer to:* Pre-unitarian navies of the Italian states* Regia Marina, the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of Italy * Italian Navy , the navy of the Italian Republic...
.
USS Barnegat (AVP-10)
BarnegatUSS Barnegat (AVP-10)
For the Barnegat class as a whole, see Barnegat class small seaplane tender.The second USS Barnegat , in commission from 1941 to 1946, was the lead ship of her class of small seaplane tenders built for the United States Navy just before and during World War II. She was the second U.S...
, lead unit of the class, was commissioned in July 1941. She served in the Atlantic until February 1945, then finished World War II in the Pacific. She was in reserve from 1945 to 1958, then was sold into commercial service and was used a Greek cruise ship from 1962 to 1986.
USS Biscayne (AVP-11, later AGC-18)
BiscayneUSS Biscayne (AVP-11)
USS Biscayne , later AGC-18, was a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender in commission as a seaplane tender from 1941 to 1943 and as an amphibious force flagship from 1943 to 1946.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1941 to 1946. During the first half of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she saw service as a seaplane tender in the Atlantic, in the Caribbean, in West Africa, and in North Africa. Converted into an amphibious force
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
in 1943, she served in the Mediterranean in 1943–1944, seeing action in the amphibious landings in Operation Avalanche at Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
, Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
at Anzio
Anzio
Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
, and Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
in southern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Redesignated AGC-18 in 1944, she then served in the Pacific in 1945, serving at Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
, in the Okinawa campaign, and in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
before the war ended. Postwar, she served in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Dexter (WAGC-18), later WAVP-385, later WHEC-385, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1952 and from 1958 to 1968.
USS Casco (AVP-12)
CascoUSS Casco (AVP-12)
The third USS Casco was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commissioned from 1943 to 1947.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1941 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Casco (WAVP-370)
USCGC Casco (WAVP-370)
USCGC Casco , later WHEC-370, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard Cutter in service from 1949 to 1969.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-370, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1969.
USS Mackinac (AVP-13)
MackinacUSS Mackinac (AVP-13)
The second USS Mackinac was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1942 to 1947.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1942 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Mackinac (WAVP-371)
USCGC Mackinac (WAVP-371)
USCGC Mackinac , later WHEC-371, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard Cutter in service from 1949 to 1967. She was the second ship of the United States Revenue Cutter Service or United States Coast Guard to bear the name....
, later WHEC-371, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1968.
USS Humboldt (AVP-21)
HumboldtUSS Humboldt (AVP-21)
USS Humboldt was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1941 to 1947. She was briefly reclassified as a miscellaneous auxiliary and redesignated AG-121 during 1945.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1941 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She was among three Barnegat-class ships selected in 1945 for conversion to a press information ship, redesignated AG-121, for the projected invasion of Japan in 1945–1946, but the war ended before the invasion could take place and she was converted back into a seaplane tender.She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Humboldt (WAVP-372)
USCGC Humboldt (WAVP-372)
USCGC Humboldt , later WHEC-372, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard Cutter in service from 1949 to 1969.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-372, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1969.
USS Matagorda (AVP-22)
MatagordaUSS Matagorda (AVP-22)
USS Matagorda was a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender in commission from 1941 to 1946.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was in commission from 1941 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Atlantic. She was among three Barnegat-class ships selected in 1945 for conversion to a press information ship, redesignated AG-122, for the projected invasion of Japan in 1945–1946, but the war ended before the invasion could take place and she was converted back into a seaplane tender. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373)
USCGC Matagorda (WAVP-373)
USCGC Matagorda , later WHEC-373, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard Cutter in service from 1949 to 1967.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-373, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1968.
USS Absecon (AVP-23)
AbseconUSS Absecon (AVP-23)
The second USS Absecon was a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1947, converted during construction to serve as a catapult training ship...
was in commission from 1943 to 1947. She was converted while under construction into a catapult
Aircraft catapult
An aircraft catapult is a device used to launch aircraft from ships—in particular aircraft carriers—as a form of assisted take off. It consists of a track built into the flight deck, below which is a large piston or shuttle that is attached through the track to the nose gear of the aircraft, or in...
training ship, and spent World War II in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
waters training battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
and cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
floatplane
Floatplane
A floatplane is a type of seaplane, with slender pontoons mounted under the fuselage; only the floats of a floatplane normally come into contact with water, with the fuselage remaining above water...
pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
s in catapult launches, also serving as a mobile target for torpedo planes. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374)
USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374)
USCGC Absecon , later WHEC-374, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard Cutter in service from 1949 to 1972.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-374, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1972. She was transferred to South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
in 1972 and captured by North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
on the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in 1975.
USS Chincoteague (AVP-24)
ChincoteagueUSS Chincoteague (AVP-24)
USS Chincoteague was a United States Navy seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1946.-Construction and commissioning:Chincoteague was launched on 15 April 1942 by Lake Washington Shipyard at Houghton, Washington, sponsored by Mrs. G. Rowe. She was commissioned on 12 April 1943 with Commander...
was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Chincoteague (WAVP-375)
USCGC Chincoteague (WAVP-375)
USCGC Chincoteague , later WHEC-375, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard Cutter in service from 1949 to 1972.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-375, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1972. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1972. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. She served in the Philippine Navy
Philippine Navy
The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....
from 1975 to 1985.
USS Coos Bay (AVP-25)
Coos BayUSS Coos Bay (AVP-25)
USS Coos Bay was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1946.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Coos Bay (WAVP-376)
USCGC Coos Bay (WAVP-376)
USCGC Coos Bay , later WHEC-376, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard cutter in service from 1949 to 1966.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-376, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1966.
USS Half Moon (AVP-26, ex-AGP-6, ex-AVP-26)
Half MoonUSS Half Moon (AVP-26)
USS Half Moon was a seaplane tender that served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946.-Construction and early deployment:Half Moon was laid down as a small seaplane tender on 10 March 1942 by Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, Washington, and was launched as such on 12 July 1942,...
was laid down as a seaplane tender, then was chosen as one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted to a motor torpedo boat tender prior to completion and redesignated AGP-6, but ultimately was completed as a seaplane tender, with her sister ship Oyster Bay
USS Oyster Bay (AGP-6)
USS Oyster Bay , originally and later AVP-28, was a United States Navy motor torpedo boat tender in commission from 1943 to 1946.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
becoming the motor torpedo tender AGP-6 instead. She was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
and the Philippines campaign
Philippines campaign
Philippines campaign may refer to various military campaigns that have been fought in the Philippine Islands, including:-Spanish colonial period :...
. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Half Moon (WAVP-378)
USCGC Half Moon (WAVP-378)
USCGC Half Moon , later WHEC-378, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard cutter in service from 1948 to 1969.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-378, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1969.
USS Mobjack (AGP-7, ex-AVP-27)
MobjackUSS Mobjack (AGP-7)
USS Mobjack was a motor torpedo boat tender that served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946.-Construction and early deployment:...
was one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted during construction into a motor torpedo boat tender. She was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, supporting operations at Morotai
Morotai
Morotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
, in the Philippines campaign, and in the Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
campaign. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey postwar, serving as the survey ship USC&GS Pioneer (OSS 31) until 1966.
USS Oyster Bay (AGP-6, ex-AVP-28)
Oyster BayUSS Oyster Bay (AGP-6)
USS Oyster Bay , originally and later AVP-28, was a United States Navy motor torpedo boat tender in commission from 1943 to 1946.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted during construction into a motor torpedo boat tender. She was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the New Guinea and Philippine campaigns. Stricken from the Navy List
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
in 1946, she was reinstated as a seaplane tender in 1949 and kept in reserve until 1957. She was transferred to Italy in 1957, serving in the Italian Navy until 1993.
USS Rockaway (AVP-29)
RockawayUSS Rockaway (AVP-29)
USS Rockaway was a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1946. She served in both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean during World War II...
was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She was among three Barnegat-class ships selected in 1945 for conversion to a press information ship, redesignated AG-123, for the projected invasion of Japan in 1945–1946, but the war ended before the invasion could take place and she was converted back into a seaplane tender. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Rockaway (WAVP-377)
USCGC Rockaway (WAVP-377)
USCGC Rockaway , later WAGO-377, WHEC-377, and WOLE-377, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard cutter in service from 1949 to 1972.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WAGO-377, WHEC-377, and WOLE-377, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1972.
USS San Pablo (AVP-30, later AGS-30)
San PabloUSS San Pablo (AVP-30)
USS San Pablo was a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender which was in commission as such from 1943 to 1947 and then served as a commissioned hydrographic survey ship, redesignated AGS-30, from 1948 to 1969...
was in commission from 1943 to 1947 as a seaplane tender, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Southwest Pacific, the New Guinea campaign, the Central Pacific, and the Philippines campaign
Philippines campaign
Philippines campaign may refer to various military campaigns that have been fought in the Philippine Islands, including:-Spanish colonial period :...
. She recommissioned in 1948 after conversion to a hydrographic survey ship, redesignated AGS-30, and served in this capacity until 1969.
USS Unimak (AVP-31)
UnimakUSS Unimak (AVP-31)
USS Unimak was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1946.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was in commission from 1943 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific through the end of 1944, then in the Atlantic during the first half of 1945. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Unimak (WAVP-379), later WHEC-379, later WTR-379, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1949 to 1975 and from 1977 to 1988.
USS Yakutat (AVP-32)
YakutatUSS Yakutat (AVP-32)
USS Yakutat was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946. Yakutat tended seaplanes in combat areas in the Pacific during World War II.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she supported the Peleliu
Peleliu
Peleliu is an island in the island nation of Palau. Peleliu forms, along with two small islands to its northeast, one of the sixteen states of Palau. It is located northeast of Angaur and southwest of Koror....
, Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
, and Okinawa campaigns. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Yakutat (WAVP-380)
USCGC Yakutat (WAVP-380)
USCGC Yakutat , later WHEC-380, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard cutter in service from 1948 to 1971.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-380, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1971. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1971. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, where she was cannibalized for spare parts.
USS Barataria (AVP-33)
BaratariaUSS Barataria (AVP-33)
The second USS Barataria was a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Philippines campaign. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Barataria (WAVP-381)
USCGC Barataria (WAVP-381)
USCGC Barataria , later WHEC-381, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard cutter in service from 1949 to 1969.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-381, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1969.
USS Bering Strait (AVP-34)
Bering StraitUSS Bering Strait (AVP-34)
USS Bering Strait was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946. She tended seaplanes during World War II in the Pacific in combat areas and earned three battle stars by war’s end....
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Central Pacific, where she saw action in the Okinawa campaign. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Bering Strait (WAVP-382)
USCGC Bering Strait (WAVP-382)
USCGC Bering Strait , later WHEC-382, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard cutter in service from 1948 to 1971.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-382, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1971. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1971. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, and served in the Philippine Navy until 1985.
USS Castle Rock (AVP-35)
Castle RockUSS Castle Rock (AVP-35)
USS Castle Rock was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Castle Rock (WAVP-383)
USCGC Castle Rock (WAVP-383)
USCGC Castle Rock , later WHEC-383, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard cutter in service from 1948 to 1971.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-383, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1971. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1971. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, and served in the Philippine Navy until 1985.
USS Cook Inlet (AVP-36)
Cook InletUSS Cook Inlet (AVP-36)
USS Cook Inlet was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946. She tended seaplanes during World War II in the Pacific in combat areas and earned one battle star for her service....
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she served in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and saw action in the Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
campaign. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384)
USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384)
USCGC Cook Inlet , later WHEC-384, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard cutter in service from 1949 to 1971.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-384, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1948 to 1971. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1971. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, where she was cannibalized for spare parts.
USS Corson (AVP-37)
CorsonUSS Corson (AVP-37)
USS Corson was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1956.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Central Pacific. She was recommissioned in 1951 and saw service in support of United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
forces in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
(1950–1953), then remained in commission until 1966.
USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38)
Duxbury BayUSS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38)
USS Duxbury Bay was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1966.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1944 to 1966. She performed her World War II service in the Central Pacific and in the Okinawa campaign. Postwar she served worldwide.
USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)
Gardiners BayUSS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)
USS Gardiners Bay was a United States Navy seaplane tender in commission from 1945 to 1958.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was in commission from 1945 to 1958, with World War II service in the Okinawa campaign. She also served four tours of duty in support of United Nations forces during the Korean War. In 1958 she was transferred to Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, where she served as the naval cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
training ship HNoMS Haakon VII (A-537)
HNoMS Haakon VII (A537)
HNoMS Haakon VII was a Royal Norwegian Navy training ship in commission from 1958 to 1974.-Construction and United States Navy service 1945-1958:...
until 1974.
USS Floyds Bay (AVP-40)
Floyds BayUSS Floyds Bay (AVP-40)
USS Floyds Bay was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1945 to 1960 that saw service in World War II and the Korean War.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1945 to 1960. She served at Okinawa at the end of World War II, cruised around the world in 1947–1948, and then served in the Pacific and Far East.
USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41)
Greenwich BayUSS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41)
USS Greenwich Bay , was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1945 to 1966.-Construction and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1945 to 1966. She arrived in the Western Pacific just after the end of World War II. She cruised around the world in 1946, then operated in the Pacific before spending most of her career in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Mediterranean.
USS Hatteras (AVP-42)
The contract for the construction of HatterasUSS Hatteras (AVP-42)
What wouild have been the third USS Hatteras was a proposed United States Navy seaplane tender that was never laid down.- Construction and commissioning :Hatteras was to have been one of 41 Barnegat-class small seaplane tenders the U.S...
was cancelled on 22 April 1943 before she was laid down.
USS Hempstead (AVP-43)
The contract for the construction of HempsteadUSS Hempstead (AVP-43)
What wouild have been the first USS Hempstead was a proposed United States Navy seaplane tender that was never laid down.- Construction and commissioning :...
was cancelled on 22 April 1943 before she was laid down.
USS Kamishak (AVP-44)
The contract for the construction of KamishakUSS Kamishak (AVP-44)
USS Kamishak was a proposed United States Navy seaplane tender that was never laid down.- Construction and commissioning :Kamishak was to have been one of 41 Barnegat-class small seaplane tenders the U.S. Navy planned to commission during the early 1940s, and was to have been built at Houghton,...
was cancelled on 22 April 1943 before she was laid down.
USS Magothy (AVP-45)
The contract for the construction of MagothyUSS Magothy (AVP-45)
USS Magothy was a proposed United States Navy seaplane tender that was never laid down.- Construction and commissioning :Magothy was to have been one of 41 Barnegat-class small seaplane tenders the U.S. Navy planned to commission during the early 1940s, and was to have been built at Houghton,...
was cancelled on 22 April 1943 before she was laid down.
USS Matanzas (AVP-46)
The contract for the construction of MatanzasUSS Matanzas (AVP-46)
USS Matanzas was a proposed United States Navy seaplane tender that was never laid down.- Construction and commissioning :Matanzas was to have been one of 41 Barnegat-class small seaplane tenders the U.S. Navy planned to commission during the early 1940s, and was to have been built at Houghton,...
was cancelled on 29 April 1943 before she was laid down.
USS Metomkin (AVP-47)
The contract for the construction of MetomkinUSS Metomkin (AVP-47)
What would have been the first USS Metomkin was a proposed United States Navy seaplane tender that was never laid down.- Construction and commissioning :Metomkin was to have been one of 41 Barnegat-class small seaplane tenders the U.S...
was cancelled on 29 April 1943 before she was laid down.
USS Onslow (AVP-48)
OnslowUSS Onslow (AVP-48)
USS Onslow was a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1960.-Constructioning and commissioning:...
was in commission from 1943 to 1947, seeing World War II service in the Central Pacific, Palau Islands, and Okinawa campaign. She was recommissioned in 1951 and saw service in support of United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
forces in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
(1950–1953), performing four tours in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
between 1951 and 1955, and then remained in commission until 1960, when she was sold into commercial service in the Philippines.
USS Orca (AVP-49)
OrcaUSS Orca (AVP-49)
The second USS Orca was a United States Navy seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1960.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was in commission from 1944 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns. She was again in commissioned from 1951 to 1960, seeing service the Pacific and Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
(1950–1953). In 1962 she was transferred to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, and served as that country's largest warship Ethiopia (A-01) until 1991.
USS Rehoboth (AVP-50, later AGS-50)
RehobothUSS Rehoboth (AVP-50)
The second USS Rehoboth was in commission in the United States Navy as a seaplane tender from 1944 to 1947 and as an oceanographic survey ship from 1948 to 1970.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was in commission from 1944 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. She was recomissioned in 1948 after conversion to an oceanographic
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
survey vessel. Redesignated AGS-50 in 1949, she saw service in this role from 1948 to 1970.
USS San Carlos (AVP-51)
San CarlosUSS San Carlos (AVP-51)
USS San Carlos was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. San Carlos, named after San Carlos Bay, Florida, was in commissioned from 1944 to 1947 and earned three battle stars for service in the Pacific during World War II...
was in commission from 1944 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, at Morotai, and Philippines campaign. After years in reserve, she returned to U.S. Navy service in 1958 in a non-commissioned status as the hydrographic
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
survey ship United States Naval Ship
United States Naval Ship
United States Naval Ship or USNS is the prefix designation given to non-commissioned ships that are property of the United States Navy.-Overview:...
USNS Josiah Willard Gibbs (T-AGOR-1) with a mostly civilian crew, serving in this role until 1971. In 1971 she was transferred to Greece, which also employed her as a hydrographic survey ship.
USS Shelikof (AVP-52)
ShelikofUSS Shelikof (AVP-52)
USS Shelikof was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1947 and from 1952 to 1954.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was in commission from 1944 to 1947, performing her World War II service in the Central Pacific and in the Okinawa campaign. She was in reserve from 1947 to 1960, when she was sold into commercial service. She served as a Greek cruise ship until she sank in a storm while laid up in 1981.
USS Suisun (AVP-53)
SuisunUSS Suisun (AVP-53)
USS Suisun was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1955.-Construction, commissioning, and shakedown:...
was in commission from 1944 to 1955, performing her World War II service in the Central Pacific, then serving postwar in the Pacific and Far East. She was in reserve from 1955 to 1966, then was sunk as a target.
USS Timbalier (AVP-54)
TimbalierUSS Timbalier (AVP-54)
USS Timbalier was a Barnegat class seaplane tender of the United States Navy. She was commissioned shortly after the end of World War II, and served between 1946 and her decommissioning in 1954.- Construction and commissioning :...
was in commission from 1946 to 1954, performing most of her active service in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and along the United States East Coast. She was in reserve from 1954 to 1960, then sold into commercial service. She operated as a Greek cruise ship from 1960 to 1989.
USS Valcour (AVP-55, later AGF-1)
ValcourUSS Valcour (AVP-55)
USS Valcour , later AGF-1, was a United States Navy ship in commission as a seaplane tender from 1946 to 1965 and as a flagship from 1965 to 1973.- Construction and commissioning :...
was in commission from 1946 to 1973, spending her career in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Middle East. In 1965 she was reclassified as a "miscellaneous command flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
", redesignated AGF-1.
USS Wachapreague (AGP-8, ex-AVP-56)
WachapreagueUSS Wachapreague (AGP-8)
USS Wachapreague was a motor torpedo boat tender that served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946.-Construction and deployment:...
was one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted during construction into a motor torpedo boat tender. She was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Philippine and Borneo campaigns. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC McCulloch (WAVP-386)
USCGC McCulloch (WAVP-386)
USCGC McCullough , later WHEC-386, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard Cutter in service from 1946 to 1972. She was the fourth ship of the United States Revenue Cutter Service or United States Coast Guard to bear the name....
, later WHEC-386, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service from 1946 to 1972. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1972. Upon the collapse of the South Vietnamese government at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, and served in the Philippine Navy until 1985.
USS Willoughby (AGP-9, ex-AVP-57)
WilloughbyUSS Willoughby (AGP-9)
The second USS Willoughby was a motor torpedo boat tender that served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946.-Construction and Deployment:...
was one of four Barnegat-class ships to be converted during construction into a motor torpedo boat tender. She was in commission from 1944 to 1946, performing her World War II service in the Pacific, where she saw action in the Philippine and Borneo campaigns. She was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard postwar as USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387)
USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387)
USCGC Gresham , later WHEC-387, later WAGW-387, was a Casco-class United States Coast Guard Cutter in service from 1947 to 1973.-Construction and U.S. Navy service:...
, later WHEC-387 and WAGW-387, and was in commissioned Coast Guard service until 1973.